In a shocking revelation, prominent Dota player Arslan “xannii” Shadzhanov from the EEU region has come forward about his involvement in matchfixing. xannii, formerly of Team Empire, admitted to succumbing to the proposal due to financial difficulties. This decision not only tarnished his reputation but also betrayed the trust of his teammates.
During his time with Team Empire in 2022, xannii was approached by a notorious matchfixer named Sensibility. Struggling financially and dissatisfied with his own performance, xannii agreed to intentionally lose three games for a sum of $4,500. His teammates were unaware of his treacherous actions.
The matchfixing deal came with specific requirements, including pausing the match at minute three and claiming lag as an excuse for poor performance. xannii’s ill intentions became apparent to his teammates when he disconnected from a match and failed to return, leaving the team with only four players.
Upon discovering xannii’s deceit, Team Empire removed him from the roster and continued competing with a stand-in. xannii felt remorseful and reached out to his former teammates to explain his actions. While one teammate, Stanislav “633” Glushan, showed understanding, Maxim “Shachlo” Abramovskikh cut all ties with xannii.
After being expelled from Team Empire, xannii took a break from Dota 2 but returned after three months. However, his reputation hindered his chances of joining top-tier teams. Determined to prove himself, xannii started from division two and faced further challenges when Sensibility began pressuring him to fix more matches. Threats were made, and xannii decided to confront Sensibility and expose his dark past.
Participating in the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit with HF and IVY, xannii’s statements put his future Dota 2 career at risk. He is prepared for a potential permanent ban from Valve events but prioritizes clearing his conscience and rebuilding his self-image.
The 2023 DPC season has been marred by matchfixing allegations, leading to the banning of numerous Dota 2 professionals and the expulsion of teams from China’s DPC Tour. These incidents raise questions about Valve’s approach to maintaining the integrity of Dota 2’s competitive scene.
Source: DOTESPORTS
